Apparatus for producing wooden heels



Sept. 17, 1929. F. A. DAY ,396

' APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WOODEN HEELS Original Filed May 1, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 1 S p 1'1, 192: F. A. DAY 1,1 8 396 APPARATUS FOR PliODUCING WOODEN HEELS Original Filed May 1, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6/ eaI I Q l I o 6/ 68 7 50 I 6 MS a as 50 9 I I /a 3:2 9. 4:

gwventoo J, EAJJAY Sept. 17, 1929. F. A. DAY 1,728,396

I l APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WOODEN HEELS Original Filed May 1, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 17, 1929. F. A. DAY

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WOODEN HEELS Original Filed May 1, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES FRED A. DAY, OFCINCINNATI,

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING woonnn HEELS Application filed May '1, 1926,Serial No. 106,121. Renewed March 7, 1 92 9.

This invention relates to an improved shoe faces of the heelbody, and inorder to elimheel and to the method and apparatus for producing thesame, an outstanding object of the invention being the provision of animproved form of heel padding and wherein novel and improved methodsandapparatus are utilized in the formation of the body by which a bodyof improved appearance is produced together with economy and facility inits manufacture.

In the manufacture of heels of the type employed especially on femininefoot wear, a wooden core or body is first produced which, in process ofmanufacture, is shaped or L modeled to produce any desired type or styleof heel such, forexample, as the well known Cuban or French styles aswell as many.

others, and this body, which is first carefully shaped to produce thedesired. style, is then completed orfinished by operations involvingpainting, polishing or otherwise decorating the exterior surfacesthereof, or by having cloth or leather applied to the outer surfacewhereby the desired external appearance of the heel is obtained.

The present invention is directed to the production particularly of theso called Cuban or common sense type of heels, and more especially tothe manner of producing, forming or finishing the arch or breast surfaceof this type of heel body. In order that the breast surface of said bodywill be given a compound curvature to enable the finished body at theforward side edges there of to impart, when viewed in side elevation, astraight edge appearance necessary in finishing the heel body to meetthe exacting requirements of the particularv style selected Hitherto inthe manufacture of heel bodies it has been a difiicult, laborious andexpenwith the curved side walls. Ordinarily, the 1 breast surface is ofconcave formation in horizontal planes throughout the height thereof andsince the side walls of the body are vertically concave the heel body,in previous p tures ofthe present invention.

vogues of manufacture, has a curved edge appearance between the breastand. side SLUT,

inat'e this ithas been necessary hitherto to grind or sandpaper the bodyso as to overcome the curved ed 'e appearance and pro 1 duce thedesired'stralght line effect.

In accordance with the present invention a method and apparatus ispro'videdwherebythe heel body has the breast surface thereof modeled bymeans of a single'cutter so as topossess a compound curvature, concavein horizontal section and convex in vertical section, whereinv thedesired appearance of the heel body issecured in one automaticallyexecuted operation rather than by means of i has been customary.

With these and other will appear asthe description proceeds, theinvention consists in thenovel features of construction, combinations ofelements and arran ements of parts hereinafter to be fully described andpointed out in the appended claims. if

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatusor machine employed in carrying out the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side. elevation thereof, Figure 3 is asimilar view atright angles to the plane disclosed in F igureP,

Figure & is a vertical sectional view disclosing on an enlarged scalethe table of the machine and its supporting and driving mechanism,

Figure 5 isan enlarged plan View of the table and the cylindricalcutter,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken a plurality of hand effectedoperations as objects in view,as

through the work supporting mechanism" of the table on the planeindicated by the line 66 of Figure 5, L s,

I Figure 7 is a detail front elevation of the cylindrical cutterandshowing the latter engaging a heel blank arranged on the table,

Figure Sis a vertical longitudinal sectional view. taken through thecutter on the line W8 8 of Figure, 5,

. Figure 9 is a side elevation of a heel blank after being cutinaccordance with the fea- Figure 1) ise bottom plan view thereof,

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the arch or breast surface of the heelblank,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the completed blank or heel,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the completed heel, illustrating moreparticularly the straight line finish imparted to the breast edges ofthe heel.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings and to thespecific embodiment of the invention therein illustrated, the numeral 1designates a frame formed from a casting and constructed to provide abase 2 and upstanding walls 3. As shown in Figure 4, one of the walls isprovided at its upper end with a vertically disposed guide 4, in whichis received for vertical adjustment the lower member 5 of a compoundtable support 6. This lower member is provided with a horizontallyarranged portion 7, in the upper surface of which is provided adove-tailed groove 8, in which is situated a correspondingly shapedportion 9 provided upon the upper member 10 of the table support.

To effect the Vertical adjustment of the table support, the lower member5 is provided on its under surface with a fixed collar 11', in which isjournaled the upper end of a screw 12, the lower threaded end 13 of thelatter being received within a correspondingly threaded portion 14provided in the frame 1. The central portion of the screw table support.

is provided with a turning enlargement 15, by which, through the use ofa suitable tool, the screw may be rotated so as toeffect vertical travelthereof and corresponding' vertical travel on the part of the tablesupport. In the collar 11, the screw is provided with an annular grove16,'and a transverse pin 17 is mounted in the collar 11 and engages withthe groove 16 so as to lock the screw in connection with the lowermember of the Fastening screws 18 are utilized for the purpose ofretaining the collar in connection with the lower member 5. Thus,through the medium of the screw 12 and the extension-of the lower memberentering the guide 4 of the frame 1, a strong and substantialconstruction is produced for admitting of vertical adjustment on thepart of the table support and yet to enable the latter to receivewithout vibration the weight imposed thereon and to withstand withoutinjury or loss of adjustment the stresses and strains to which thedevice is subjected.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a horizontal adjustment of the tablesupportis procured by the provision of the dove tailed extension 9,provided on the bottom of the upper member 10, which enters and isreceived by the similarly formed groove 8 provided in the upper surfaceof the lower member of said support.

To maintain and effect this horizontal adployed for rotating the tablerate of revolution. Throughthe use of the justment, one end of theportion 9 of the upper member is provided with a depending extension 19,in which is journaled screw 20 actuated by a hand wheel 21. The screw 20is threadedly received within a bore 22 provided in the lower member 5,and it will be seen that by rotating the screw 20 the upper member 10may be caused to traverse the lower member of the support in ahorizontal direction so that by means of these compound adjustments thedesired operating positions on the part of the table support may beobtained and maintained.

The upper member 10 is provided with a vertically arranged bore for thereception of the lower end of a stationary vertically arranged shaft 23,which extends upwardly from the support and loosely receives a cir cularwork supporting table 24. The under side of this table is provided witha fixed depending bearing sleeve 25 arranged to loosely receive theshaft'23, the lower end of said sleeve resting upon a thrust washer 26,arranged on the top of the upper member 10. Fixed to the sleeve 25, orto the under surface of the table 24, is an enlarged bevel gear 27,which meshes with a pinion 28 mounted upon a short shaft section 29, thelatter being mounted for rotation within a bearing 30 formed in anextension 31 which in this instance constitutes an integral part of theupper member 10. The upper member is provided with a set screw 32 whichimpinges the shaft 23 so as to hold the latter in secured connectionwith the table support. The outer end of the section 29 is providedpreferably with a sprocket 33, over which is trained a chain 34, saidchain also passing over a second sprocket 35 mounted upon the drivenshaft of a suitable form of speed reducing mechanism. mounted in ahousing 36. This mechanism is actuated by an electricmotor 37, whosearmature shaft is provided with a pulley over which is trained a belt38, which leads to a similar pulley 39 provided upon the driving shaftof the speed reducing mechanism. The motor 37 and the speed reducingmechanism is carried upon a shelf 40, suitably formed with the frame 1-The chain 34 is also led over an idler 41, by which proper drivingtension is 'main tained on the socket chain. Through the use of thespeed reducing mechanism a high speed low horse power motor may be ematits required idler 41 the adjustment of the table support doesnotefl'ect the driving relation between the relatively adjustablesprockets 33 and The upper surface of the table 24 is provided, adjacentto the outer edge thereof,

prises an anchor section '42:, consisting of'a flat plate like memberpivoted as at 43 on,

the upper surface of the table and provided with an upstandingwall.44which has its work engaging surface serrated or roughened as at45. The lowerflat horizontal portion of each section 42is provided withan arcuate slot 46 in which is received an adjusting screw 47, theradius of the slot 46 being struck from thepi'votal point '43. Throughthe medium of this construction the working plane of the wall 44 may beadjusted to suit the requirements of the work to be received. Alsoengaging the work blank is a second radially adjustable stock member 48carried by the upper surface of the table and provided with alongitudinally extending slot for the reception of a clamping screw 49,by means of which the stock member is retained in any of its adjustablepositions. Cooperative with the anchor section 42 and with the stockmember 48 for each set of work engaging supports on the table, is agripping section 50. Each of these sections rests flatly on the uppersurface of the table and includes a housing 51 having a horizontallyextending base flange 52, which is slotted as at 53 for the reception ofclamping screws 54, by means of which each of the "gripping sections maybe moved toward oraway from the anchor sections. 'Thehousing of eachgripping section is provided with an adjustable plunger 55 having itsouter end pointed as at 56 for engaging the work blanks and to maintainthe latteragainst the roughened surface of thecooper'ative anchor section and also. against the upstanding wall of the stock member 48. Thisaction on the part of the plunger is secured by a spring 57 arrangedwithin a chamber 58 formed in the housingfil', the saidspring atone endengaging one of the walls of the chamber 58 and at the other endengaging a fixed pin 59 provided on the plunger 55, the tendency of thespring being to retract the plunger and to maintain the same out ofengagement with the work blank.

However, in the operation of the machine, immediately before the cuttingof the work or heel blank 60, the plunger is forced into engagement withthe work to hold the latter stationary by the provision of a pivoted arm61, carried by the housing 51. This arm is provided with a roller 62,situated to engage a cam surface 63 provided upon a stationary cammember 65 clamped as at 66 in connection with the shaft 23. As the tablerotates, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, the heelbodies or blanks 60 are fed into the machine so as to engage properlywith the anchor sections 42 and the stock members 48, but as the blanksnear the cylindrical cutter 67, to be hereinafter described, the rollers62 engage with the under surface'of the cam member 65, .so

thatthe arms 61 are rocked about their pivotal mounting to force theplunger longitudinally, against the resistance offered by its spring 57,thus 'ena-blingthe pointed end 56 of the plunger tobite into the work soas to hold the latter stationary and secure during the cutting or sawingoperation. The adjustment provided for the anchor sections 42, the stockmembers 48 and the gripping sections enables these latter ole-1 ments tobe adapted to heel blanks of vary- I ing proportions, as will'be readilyunderstood. Also, surrounding a portion of the circumferential edge ofthe table 24 is an upstanding arcuate guide wall 68, which retains theblanks in properly placed. positions on the surface of the table inconnection with theanchor sections 42 before the blanks are positivelygripped and held by the i lungers of the gripping section. By this Iconstruction blanks may be fed rapidly into the machine so that thelatter will have a relatively large working capacity;

The cutter 67 consists of a cylindrical steel body, as shown in Figures7 and 8, having sawing or cutting teeth 69 provided upon the forwardedge thereof and arranged for rotation in a vertical plane. Thelongitudinal axis of the cutter body is provided with a tapered bore toreceive the tapered end 70 of a shaft 71, the forwardend of the latterbeing provided with lock nuts 72 saw longitudinally and control theworking relationship of the teeth 69 thereon with respect to the edge ofthe rotatable table. The shaft 71 is provided with a'pulley wheel 77,around which is trained a-belt78,leading to a belt wheel 79 providedupon the armature shaft of an electric motor 80,

which is arranged on the base 2 of the frame. It will be understood thatthe operation' of the motors. 37 and 80 may be governed throughthemedium 'of'any suitable controlling. mechanism, such as the usualhand switches, indicated at 81.

In operation, wooden heel blanks or bodies.

are placed on the revolving table of the machme, as shown in Figure5,-w1th the table rotating in the direction of the arrow. As

the blanks near the revolving cutter the holding clamps on the table actto positively grip the blanks so as to prevent movement thereof duringengagement of the blanks with. the teeth of the cutter. This isaccomplished, as has been previously explained, by the engagement of thearm 61 with the cam member 65. Due to the fact that the blanks aresupported by the table and are revolving bodily about the axis of theshaft 23 during the cutting operation, the breast surface of the blankwill be given a compound curvature, as shown particularly in Figures 9and 10. Due to the construction of the cutter 67 the breast surface 82of the blank is given a concave curvature, as indicated at 83 but, also,due to the bodily rotation of the table, the blank will, in addition,have a conveXed curvature imparted thereto, as at 84. It is to theobtainment of this particular curvature that the present invention hasbeen addressed. It will be seen that by this method of operation and theconstruction described a shoe heel is formed having a breast surface ofconcave for- 1 mation in horizontal section and of convexed formation invertical section. After leaving the cutter the heel blank operated on isautomatically released, since the arm 61 does not then engage with thecam member and, as shown in Figure 1, the cam member is provided with aresilient wiping arm 85, disposed in the path of travel of the blank,whereby when the blank is released the spring arm eng'agcs therewith andpresses the same olf of the table into the discharge chute 86.

By this arrangement the vertical edges of the blank terminate insubstantially coifin shaped portions 87, in order that during thesubsequent modeling of the sides of the heel body, to produce thecurvature indicated at 88, in Figure 12, these crescent shaped portionswill be removed so that the heel body will conform to the arcuate line89 disclosed in Figure 11. This results, as shown in Figure 13, in theproduction of a heel body which, when viewed in side elevation, presentsthe desired straight edge or straight line appearance, avoiding thepresence of the curved edge forms hitherto unavoidably present when thebreast surface of the heel body has been merely finished to present aconcave formation without the convex condition being present. It will beunderstood that the curvature of the side wall 90 of the heel may beproduced by any well known machinery and method for carrying out thispurpose. This is usually done on a second or separate machine. Likewise,the upper surface of the heel body is suitably pocketed as at 91 in thecustomary manner.

Thus, it will be seen that by the provision of the apparatus hereinspecifically described the breast surface of a wooden shoe heel may bequickly, conveniently and economically formed to provide for the doublecurvature thereof to the end of producing Cuban 7 type heel body havingvertical edges at the line of juncture of the breast surface of the bodywith the curved side walls thereof. lhis is accomplished by theautomatic operation of the machine. described, wherein it is merelynecessary to feed the blank into the machine in order to carry out thecutting or modeling thereof. This eliminates the manual handling of theblanks and the sand papering or finishing thereof, as has been hithertonecessary, in order to produce the straight edge effect. Ihe cuttingteeth of the cylindrical cutters 67 are set close together in order thata smooth finished surface will be provided, eliminating the necessity offurther dressing or smoothing of the surface. After the heel body hasbeen completed as shown in Fig ures 12 and 13, any suitable materialsmay be applied to the outer surfaces thereof to )resent the desiredfinished appearance.

\Vhat is claimed is: In a machine of the class described, a revolubletable, an axial support therefor, work holding means on the uppersurface of said table, comprising an anchor section, a gripping sectionspaced from said anchor section, said grip nng section including asliding plunger between the outer end of which and said anchor sectionthe body to be clamped is placed, spring means acting on said plungerand normally spacing the latter from said body, a pivoted arm carried inconnection with said table and normally in engagement with one end ofsaid plunger, a stationary member carried by the a ial support of saidtable and arranged above and in the path of movement of said arm toswing the latter about its pivotal mounting whereby said plunger isforced into engagement with said body, and a horizontally disposedcutter arranged to engage with said body while the latter is clampedbetween the anchor and gripping section of said table. In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

FRED A. DAY.

